Isaiah 59
Many people are able to acknowledge that sin is real, but very few would describe it the way that God does in the Bible. We tend to think about the worst people or about our worst moment. Few embrace the doctrine of original sin, and many seem reluctant to take responsibility for our own particular transgressions. This is very significant since a true assessment of our sin is important for us to gain an accurate appreciation of the cross.
When the Lord speaks about the sin of His beloved people, He does not ignore the depth and ugliness of it. He speaks of spiders and snakes, and bloody hands. He tells us of feet that run to do evil and thoughts that are stuck on iniquity. The consequence of this is a horrible breach in our peace with God.
This may have dire consequence for our lives. We want to live in the light of life, but we are mired in darkness. At noon we should be able to walk safely from the light of the sun, but we stumble as if the sun were not out. We should have physical strength, be we find ourselves shockingly weak, and we don’t know why. The problem may be our transgressions. This may not be merely a situation of individual depravity. Isaiah is speaking of societal sins that have had an impact on all of the people.
What can be done about our deplorable condition? The Lord knows that the answer is not in us. This is perhaps one of the most important realizations that we can come to. Our arm is too short to solve our sin problem, but God’s arm is not short. We do not have the weapons necessary for the spiritual battle ahead of us, but the Lord has His own provisions to meet the challenge. He has a breastplate and a helmet that are fit for the task ahead of Him. He has the garments necessary for the battle ahead.
He will wage warfare against His and our enemies. Like a rushing stream He comes against the powerful foe. In Ephesians six we are told to put on the Lord’s armor. It is not by the weapons of this world that the Kingdom will come in power, but by the spiritual warfare waged by our Redeemer.
This Redeemer will come to His people, for all those in Jacob who will turn away from transgression. The Messiah has covenantal resources that cannot be stopped. He will rescue the weak ones who will turn away from sin. Ultimately this comes through a spiritual warrior who is sent from on high. The Father and the Son have sent forth the Spirit, to accomplish what no man can do. Christ has accomplished our redemption, but it is the Holy Spirit who is sent forth from heaven who applies that redemption to people.
It was the Spirit who was used by the Father in the conception of the Son in the womb of a virgin. It was the Spirit who caused the Word of Scripture to be inspired as God worked through human writers. It is the Spirit who will fill us with the Incarnate and scriptural Word of God, and move us to the service and praise of God forever.
It is amazing that those who are so completely guilty of sin, could be so fully and wonderfully redeemed. Only through the work of our covenant Mediator could this have been accomplished. Without the cross of Christ, we could have no hope of forgiveness and fellowship with God. Now our hope is secure and full. We have been touched by this divine Spirit, poured out on Pentecost, sent even to Gentiles like Cornelius and His family and friends, touching far-off nations with the eternal Word of truth.
The facts of our sin are still ugly. Spiders and snakes still provide the right images for us. Bloody hands and swift feet running to evil still tell the tale of our rebellion. But the Lord has redeemed His Zion through the man of His choosing, and the Spirit has worked a miracle, the down-payment of which we experience at the present time. We eagerly await the fullness of the promise, amazed that sinners would be loved by God and redeemed at such a cost.
posted by Pastor Magee @ 7:00 AM
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